Way back in the hoary, pre-Cambrian era of the late 50's, we Canucks had ourselves a high-altitude interceptor, or at least prototypes. Built by Avro Canada, the CF-105 (Arrow) was, if history, available data and witness accounts are anything to go by, beating the wings off of anything else in the air. Unfortunately, that didn't sit well with some people (you can guess who they are), they preferred us Canadians to be handmaidens to their aims, not competitors, So, they pulled some levers to bring us presumptous cheeseheads back in line for daring to set foot in the playpen they figured they owned by divine right.  Our Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker (play with his name any way you want, he let himself in for it) didn't have the stones to stand up for the technological achievements of his own country and not only cancelled the project but endeavored to destroy and wipe out every last trace of it that could be found - as if trying to erase the Arrow from history. Naturally, our government's attempt to 'erase' the information and artifacts of the Arrow's legacy only assured that the people who valued and remembered it would work all the more tenaciously to preserve these things - ain't human nature a funny thing?

I first came to know of the Avro Arrow at the tender age of ten, from photographs in the collection of my father who was an RCAF photographer. From the moment I first laid eyes on its image, the ghost attached itself to me like a stray kitten curling up on my bed and offered a running commentary on everything going on around me, as if my subconscious had acquired delta wings. The Ghost Arrow had a big mouth and no respect for tyrants, and by sheer schpritz and nerve soon dominated the conversation between all the other characters inside my head. "The worst already happened to me!", it argued, "I can say anything I want about anybody and it doesn't matter. Dead folks have no worries." So, you can see where Sky-On-Water got the foundations of his personality.

When CBC did that miniseries, I was rather annoyed at all the liberties they took with the historical facts, inserting the currently politically correct demographics where they never actually were (don't get me started on that) and severely p*ssing me off by assigning the maiden flight to the wrong test pilot. The rollout scene was one of the few things besides the aircraft mockup that they did entirely right, IMO. When I began Arrowflight, I took care to ensure that actual historical facts and people received their due whenever the matter came up. There were enough nooks, crannies and enigmas between the publically known facts to give me more than enough leeway to do what I wanted without disrespecting anyone involved with the project.

With that, here are some tasty links to get you started on a fascinating and still mystery-shrouded chapter of Canadian history.

THE AVRO CANADA ARCHIVES
Photos, history and data galore. Have yourself an info-pigout!

VICTORY ROLL, INC.
The homepage of aviation artist Randall Whitcomb. You didn't think I was the only person drawing Arrows, did you?

AVRO ARROW SIMULATION SITE
Micheal LeBlanc, associate professor at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design, has been slaving away over a hot mouse and keyboard and  working his fingers to the bone to make this 3-D recreation for your enjoyment. No throwing peanuts at the artist please...

MACH 3 GRAPHICS
Another excellent art site. Put a whole squadron on your wall...

HOBBYCRAFT MODELS
If you prefer the 'old-fashioned' 3D models that you can actually reach out and touch, here's where you can get your own little Arrow.